Module Details

The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN CRIME AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Code SOCI369
Coordinator Dr L Hancock
Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology
L.Hancock@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2022-23 Level 6 FHEQ Second Semester 15

Aims

- To examine how communities/lay publics interact with and are 'involved' in crime control and criminal justice institutions.
- To subject the underlying rationales for community and public involvement in criminal justice to scrutiny
- To assess and examine the practice of public participation using the most recent research evidence, including students’ own research evidence should this be possible.


Learning Outcomes

(LO1) Identify and discuss the key concepts and theories underpinning public involvement in crime and criminal justice policy and practice and apply them in particular policy/institutional settings.

(LO2) Recognise the significance of social divisions and patterns of inequality for public participation and involvement.

(LO3) Explain the nature of social relationships between individuals, groups and criminal justice institutions.

(LO4) Summarise and assess evidence concerning the nature, extent and implications of community and public involvement in crime and criminal justice.

(S1) Contrast different interpretations of public involvement and community participation, their merits and demerits

(S2) Gather, synthesise and summarise research evidence

(S3) Formulate key questions associated with public involvement in crime and criminal justice

(S4) Organise and present ideas/arguments and draw reasoned conclusions


Syllabus

 

1. The growing importance of public involvement: Introducing community and public involvement in crime and criminal justice
2. Public opinion, crime and criminal justice: controversies, explanations and evidence
3. Police informants: crime control and ethics
4. A session to prepare you for undertaking a court visit (optional) if this is possible to do so safely. If not, the focus will be on the impact of COVID-19 on the criminal courts
5. Lay participants in the criminal courts – magistrates’ justice
6. Lay participants in the criminal courts – jurors
7. Community involvement in restorative justice
8. ‘Broken’ and ‘Big’ Societies – ‘community’, ‘crime’ and the Coalition
9. Informal justice and vigilante activity
10. Conceptualising public involvement
11. Assessing community and publi c involvement in crime and criminal justice


Teaching and Learning Strategies

Hybrid - asynchronous pre-recorded lectures.
Face to face synchronous seminars, safety permitting.

Teaching Method 1 - Lecture
Description:
Attendance Recorded: Not yet decided
Notes: The lectures are designed to give you a broad introduction to key areas and debates; they are intended to facilitate your reading and to highlight issues that should be explored in your ‘out of class’ study time and in the seminars.

Teaching Method 2 - Seminar
Description:
Attendance Recorded: Not yet decided
Notes: The seminars are designed to explore particular issues and debates in more detail than can be achieved during lectures; they will enable you to clarify and develop your understanding of your reading; and provide important opportunities to ensure your preparedness for the assessment tasks as well as an opportunity to debrief following the court observation.

Teaching Method 3 - Tutorial
Description:
Attendance Recorded: Not yet decided
Notes: Individual (15 minute) tutorials are available in weeks 11 and 12 where you will be able to discuss your feedback on assessment 1 and your plans for assessment 2.

Teaching Method 4 - Field Work
Description:
Attendance Recorded: Not yet decided
Notes: You will have the option to visit a magistrates’ or Crown court if this is possible to undertake safely’.


Teaching Schedule

  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours 11

8

.25

      19.25
Timetable (if known)   60 mins X 1 totaling 11
 
         
Private Study 130.75
TOTAL HOURS 150

Assessment

EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)
% of
final
mark
Resit/resubmission
opportunity
Penalty for late
submission
Notes
             
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)
% of
final
mark
Resit/resubmission
opportunity
Penalty for late
submission
Notes
Assessment 2 You will be able to choose one area of public involvement and lay participation that you are interested in (it must be covered in this module) and present an evidence-based response pape    100       

Recommended Texts

Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.